If it’s no longer possible to “speed” – if cars become automated and drivers become passengers – won’t the government lose all the money they currently mulct from “speeding” drivers?
Of course not.
The revenue will simply be collected via other means. Which means will probably involve much more than merely the collection of revenue.
Distance, for instance, will probably be the replacement tax – applied generally. And emissions per distance. Too much of either – as decided by the government – and we’ll probably be more than merely mulcted.
The car – automated, remember – simply won’t motorvate.
Amazon.com Gift Card i...
Buy New $25.00
(as of 07:45 UTC - Details)
That is, it won’t move once you’ve exceeded your allotted monthly/weekly/annual distance or emissions allowance. Those who control its movement – not you, remember – will decide when it does and doesn’t move as well as how far it moves, in addition to how it moves.
Your automated car’s movements can be programmed in our adjusted as it moves, according to its movements.
And all these movements known in fine detail by those who control the automated car.
It is not generally known – yet – but a large percentage of current cars still nominally controlled by us and so autonomous already have embedded within their electronic systems the means by which they can be controlled automatically.
The necessary tech is being added right under our noses – made part of the standard equipment package and marketed to us as “assistance.” Watch out for that word. It is a danger word – like saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety.
Once a critical mass of cars have this capability it will not only be possible to implement tax-by-distance and taxes on emissions per distance but inevitable.
In the first place, how else to raise the revenue – especially that lost as the result of automated electric cars, which consume no gas and therefore pay no motor fuels tax at all. A federally applied distance tax has already been proposed on exactly this basis and several states, including Oregon, have their own “pilot programs” in the works.
It is inconceivable that the government – whether federal or state – will do without the revenue “lost” to electric cars. Create a problem – then offer a solution. Read up on Hegel; bet your bippie that Urban Planners have.
